Don Gaines

Fries, meet gravy and cheese. Gravy, meet fries and cheese. You’re all gonna be real good friends.

July 1 was good ol Canada Day. I’ve got 2 great friends living on opposite coasts of Canada so I always try to do something in their honor. Didn’t get to crack open any Canadian beer, Moosehead and LaBatt Blue being my favorites, but I did get to chow down on this delicious relationship of fries, gravy and cheese. Typically this is made with beef gravy so even as a vegetarian I never got to try the “real” thing but I’m not too hurt. I did used to combine white gravy and processed american cheese atop fries at the country club I worked at. I gained some weight that year. Anyway, you’re more interested in how to make this, so let’s get to it!

• prep time: 5 minutes
• cook time: approx 30 minutes
• serves 2, or one really hungry Canadian

• 5-6 Gardein beef tips, diced up
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1.5 cups veggie broth (a bit of a guesstimate)
• 1 T flour
• 1/8 cup water
• 15oz Alexia Yukon Gold Fries (or make your own or whatever kind you like)
• 1 cup Daiya Mozzarella Cheese
• Salt/Pepper to taste

1. Bake french fries according to directions. Wait until you have about 7-10 minutes left on the timer before you begin the gravy. When fries are done leave oven at temp.
2. Sauté the beef tips and garlic until beef tips are turning dark brown
3. make a “slurry” from the flower and water, stir well.
4. Add 1/2 cup veggie broth to beef tips/garlic and let most of the veggie broth cook off
5. Add the remaining cup of veggie broth
6. Add the slurry mixture to your gravy mix remembering to stir constantly as you add. Make sure you get all of the flour out.
7. Bring to a boil quickly then reduce and place on low heat.
8. Allow to simmer until desired thickness is reached. You may choose to add more broth or more slurry. I find mixing the flour into the water keeps it from clumping in the gravy.
9. Pour the gravy over the fries in a round or square baking pan, something with a little depth.
10. Add Daiya mozzarella cheese to the top, bake for 5-10 minutes until cheese is at desired consistency.

Boom, that’s it.